Aerial machine.



C. I. MATSON.

AERIAL MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNB3,1909.

Patented Aug. 27, 1912.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

H1 m. A. mi.. ...a l//z/ C. I. MATSON.

AERIAL MACHINE.

APPLIOATION FILED JUNB3,1909. A 1,036,667. Patented Aug. 27, 1912.

' 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Miliz/ewes.- v MAQ! d@ f/Mw By www aosaeoa tITE: srailas PATENT, OFFICE.

cHAnLEs I. Manson, or c'ncaeo, Ln'INoIs.

AERIAL MACHINE.

Specicaton of Letters itatent..y K Patented ilgl'. 27, 1912.

Application aleatJune s, 1909. serial No. 499,833.-

To all 'whomI it my concern:

Beit known that I, CHARLES I. Manson, a citizen ,of the United lStates, residing at Chicago, in the county V,of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new yand useful Improvements in Aerial Machines, of which the following is a specification.

'My' invention relatesrto appliances foi1 navigating the air and has especial reference to` heavier than air lmachines and particularly to apparatus in which the supporting elements are inthe form of planes.l

Aeroplanes as ordinarily constructed', are

rigid over their entire area, and when in opJ eration have a gliding movement the line of direction deviating by small vanglesfrom the plane of the structure. Appliancesenr ploying this type of passive mechanism are largely dependent for` buoyant power upon the force with which the air particles are projected against the surface of the plane, reliance thus being placed eitherup'op the natural atmospheric currents, or the inertia of the colliding particles while the plane is( in flight-or both factors combined to pro'- duce the required lifting or supporting efr' fect. As previously stated the angle which the plane makes with the bodily movement is necessarily a slight one, and the lines of force are usually directed at such anl incl-inatlon to the plane surface that a large I yamount of the available power is lost. r

The chief lobjects of the ilnpnovenlents` which form the subject matter of this ap plication are :-to produce a machine of the type specified employing plane supporting surfaces, so arranged and constructed that the planes may be moved in-a direction at right angles to their surfaces thus causing the lines of impact of the air particles to bear such a relation to the surfaces against which they collide as to receive practically their full force, an advantage not to be ob-V tained by the ordinary construction; -to furnish a series of planes arranged to be operatively moved in alternation so that the supporting forces may be' applied in a practically continuous manner, and to adapt the proper equilibrium of the apparatus, to furnlsh a sulliicientlyl rigid structure combining strength and lig' tness, and to so design the mechanical parts that the 'required lifting power may be furnished by an apparatus ofV comparatively moderate dimensions andl simple in its mechanical movements, thus iproducing a machine that will be economical to build and that will" present 'a compara tively light weight. 4

l accomplish the objects above set forth and others of importance, by means of the appliance illustrated in the accompanying drawings,-the main features comprising a platform carrying the motor and coperatmg mechanism, a series of frames supported upon standards above the platform, planes arranged to reciprocate with said frames,

said planes being formed of hinged valvesor ,vanes; operative' means forl reciprocating the vplanes, means for deviating the angle of lthe -1 planes relatively to the said plat-form, and steering means. j v

The important details of construction are disclosed inthe following viewsz--Figure 1 l is a rear elevation of the entire apparatus; Y

Fig. 2 is an end elevation; Fig. 8 is a top plan view ofthe middle portion of the' apparatus, a part of the superstructure being broken away to disclose the mechanism beneath; Figs. 4 and 5 are fragmentary views enlarged showing the manner of supporting the vanes; 'Fig 6 is -a fra mentary view showing a corner of one oft e planes, seen y from the underside, and Fig 7 is a transverse section throughpa modified form of vane.

the numeral 10 indicates a supportin Referring to the details of the drawing platsA form, rectangular in outline, and havlng its end portions 11 narrowed/than the central portion to reduce weight. This platform is rendered rigid by a longitudinal tie rod 12 running beneath the platform andconnected thereto ateach end, posts 13 being interposed between the rod and under side of the platform, thus forming 'an effective truss which in connection with the platform forms aA supporting frame.

a pair of light resilient supports, in the form of runners 14 upon which' the apparatus 'rests' lwhen not vin operation, the supports also acting as buffers when alighting. The mlembers of the truss supportn the form are preferably made of suita le tu ing,

and the runners l-or bufliers constructed of l'xtending transversely beneath the frame4 are arranged lat-v tervals.

some tfriety of wood, such as hickory, which will have the required toughness to allow of being bent to the required shape.

Arrangedv 1n the median line is a main shaft l5 journaled inboxes 16 mounted on brackets 17, located in pairs at spaced in- This shaft is operated by a suitable motor 1B carried on the platform 10 and connected by a sprocket chain 19 with 'a sprocket wheel 20 loosely mounted on said main shaft, the said wheel being thrown into and lout of gear with the shaft by means of an ordinary clutch 21 operated by a lever 22. Between each pair of brackets the main shaft is provided with a'crank 23, and upon the shaft at either. side of each crank is mountecla loose sleeve 24, retained in position by a ,collar 25. Projecting upwardly from' these sleeves are standards or guide rods 26 composed of tubing to render them suliciently light and connectedat their tops by a tie piece 27. Each pair of these guide rods carries a light rectangular reciprocating frame, preferably made of suitable steel' tubing, secured at the joints by brazing. There are four of these frames, similarly formed and constructed as -follows:-The basic members of each frameconsist of two sleeves 28 mounted to' slide upon the said guides 26 and are connected at each endl by tie pieces 28a. Extending horizontally from the top and bot-tom of these sleeves are tubular members 29, lying in the same` plane, which coincides with Vthe axis of the main shaft, and connected at their outer ends 'by vertical members 30, auxiliary posts 31 rising from the upper horizontal member 29, the members 30 and posts 31, supporting a horizontal framework, also ,rectangular in outline and extending equally upon both 'sides of the vertical frame, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3.- These horizontal frames comprise four parallel members 32, connected at their extremities by end bars V33, cross pieces binding the parallel members 32together between the ends. Each member 32 is reinforced Aby piano wires 36 which are attached at the extremities and suitable ci :rocated upon the guides 26 by means of a ollow connecting rod 37, attached at the lower. end by a box 38 to the correspondin crank 23, and journaled at the upper en on the lower cross pieces 28, a suitable boxin 38"being provided at this point.

Jach horizontal frame is furnished upon the under` side with a series of hinged vanes- 5 or valves 39, having their margins over-- at 40 in Figs. 4 and 6.

lapping when the said vanes are in their horizontal or operative positions, as shown The manner of hinging and supporting the said vanes 39 `is shown in detail in Figs. 4, 5, and 6. I

prefer to form these vanes in comparatively long and narrow sheets or strips ,and use for this purpose any suitable strong, light fabric. I have found certain grades of paper to be sufficiently irm and tough for'.

these vanes', and when treated with some suitable waterproof varnish will not be affected by dampness. I provide a hinge for each vane by stretching parallel cords 41 across the frame at proper intervals and attaching one margin of the vane thereto by a suitable adhesive. The position of 'these co'rds relatively to the attached 'sheet or .vane is shown in Figs. 4 and 5. It is necessary to cont-rol the movement of the free margins of these iaps or vanes in both directions, either up or down, and to limit the u ward movement` I stretch stop wires -or cords 42 across the -frame at suitable intervals and so positioned' that the iiaps will lie in contact 'therewith when carried upward by the impact of the air-,and when in'this position the overlapping vanes will form a continuous sheet or plane extending over the entire area of thehorizontal framework the liaps lying suiiiciently close to prevent the air from passing through. To limit the downward movement-of theindividual vanes I lfurnish a damping wire or cord 43, stretched parallel with the stop and hinge cords, and arranged in proximity .to the hinge margin, as shown in the drawing.

Extending rearwardly from the main bracket 17 are auxiliary brackets 44, which -carry a compound or telescopic rock-shaft comprising an outer and an inner tubular shaft arranged to rock independently or.

together in a manner to be described. The

outer shaft comprises two similar sections 45, 46, rigidly connected at the'middle point of the machine by an offset 47. Thesesections extend between the two middle pairs of main brackets 17and are rocked in their bearings bymeans of a worm 48 mounted in an arm 49, extending from the adjacent' bracket 44. This 4worm meshes with a gear 50mounted on the shaft section 45, and isv operated by a hand wheel -51. Within the outer rock shaft is mounted a hollow inner shaft 52 also consisting of two '.sections.A 'Bothinner sections projectentirely through theirrespective outer sections, and carry npon their inner ends beveled pinions 53` vin length to ythe main crank shaft 15.- Upon izq one of tHe-,inner sections adjacent to thev manner: The shaft sections are furnished with vertical rock arms 59, each arranged to correspond with a pair of the said standards, and this arm is connected by a link.

60 to a fork 61 the branches of whichare attached-to theA corresponding standards or Cguides 26 by collars 62.

lt will be evident that when the pawl of the lever 55 is in engagement with one of the notches in the sector 58, the inner and outer rock shafts will be locked together through 'the intermeshing of the `gears .53 and 54 and will turn as one shaft when the worm 48 is operated, and whenever the shafts are so rocked the standards 26, carrying the'said reciprocating frames, will be correspondingly rocked upon the i'fi'faiifi shaft, thus inclining the planes carried thereby forward or back to -the required angle,

this inclination of the lanes causing an upward or downward deviation of the course of the apparatus when in motion. .In order to'turn the machine eitherl to the right or left vthe lever 55 is released from its engagement with the outer shaft, and moved forward or back to the' required angle, where 1t is retained by the hand of theoperator, or locked in its new position by' allowing its pawl to engage a ,notch in the sector 58. The manner of coupling the inner rock-shaft sections togetherbyineans of the gears 53 and 54 will cause the said sections to be rocked in opposite directions when moved independently of the 'outer' shaft by the described movement off the Vsaid lever 55, so that thel reciprocating planes on the extreme' right and left will be inclined in opposite directions, and' the resistance which they oer to the-'air when in that position being contrary to each other,y

there will be a tendency to turn the entire structure horizontally upon its center, and

`this steering or guiding action will take place regardless of the vrelativepositions of the middle planes.

. A modified construction forthe vanes is shown in Fig. 7. This form is advantageous especiallylwhenfa woven fabric is made use of for the body of the flap, which, is made by doubling the 'sheet 63 around a single wire 64, about which it willturn as on a` hinge, stienin'g strips '65 of 'some suitable material being placed at intervals` between the layers. l

rihe functions of the various parts having'` been mentioned in connection with the de tailed description ofthe construction, .a general explanation of the operation oit the mechanism as awhole will be suflicient to give a clear understanding of the manner in which the appliance will be elevated, moved inits course forward or backward at an upward or downward angle, guided-either tol the right or left as occasion demands, or turned upon its vertical axis.

When at rest the apparatus will be sup- /ported upon the runners 14,v which. are

formed with upturn-ed ends, as shown, in order that they may offer no obstruction in case there should he a forward or backward' movement when starting or alighting. To

elevate the apparatus the main crank shaft- 15 isset in mot-ion and through the 'action .vof the connecting rods 37 the reciprocating frameswill be alternately raised andv lowered, the cranks 23 being so arranged that the 'two middle frames will move in unison,

' but in a reverse direction to the movement of the end'- frames which also move together.

As the vanes 39 are located Vupon the underside of the horizontall frames, whenlthe machine is at rest they will drop by theirv gravity to the osition shown in Fig'. 2 and while thus inclined will oii'er an appreciable lresistance to' the air and this will tend to move the plane in a forwai'd direction as the frame to' which they are'attached is movedupwardv Upon the reverse or down- .ward movement of said frame, the action of the air will instantly force the varies to their horizontal position with their -margins overface, which will be Aat all timesvert-ical to the direction in'v which the power is applied, thus rendering available the maximum lifting power of the plane. The vanesbein' quite narrow comparison with the tota' ,area of the plane there will be very little'A time lost in their opening and closing.\f kIn practice I have found that by placing thev damping cords 43 in proximity tothe hinges,f the valves may be easily retained at aplapping, so'l as to presenta continuous surproximately an angle of 30 to 45degrees from the horizontal when at their maxiymum opening, thus'limiting theirswing o n thehing'es'. l have also found by experinient that the manner of'gluing the margin f ofthe vane' to parallel cords is of especial advantage, affording a strong attachment.

The'cords are secured to the rameonly at .their extremities, andthe ends of the sheets or strips forming the vanes are le'ft free from the hinge cords for a: short `distance* at their ends, thus permitting the. cords to twist near their attachments and allow the flaps to assume the inclinedfposition without lbendingl or breaking', and. preventing' any a preciable injury`l by wear or tear tothe h nge' construction.- :lhe vmovement ofthe reciprocating planes 1n the manner stated will causel the ent-ire apparatus to rise in an inclined direction, even though the stand- .ards are in a vert-ical position, the deviation from a direct ascent being due to the action of the inclined vanes while the planes 'are moving upward, as previously menapparatus on a forward course. If it is required to turn to the right hand or the left, the operator will seize the lever 55 and carry it forward, if he wishes to guide to the right,

or backward for a turn in the opposite direction, and this movement will take place whether the middle pairs of yguides or standards 26 are vertical or inclined, and if the said lever is moved to a sufficient extent to tilt the outer planes to their maximum degree of inclination the tendency will be to .rotate the entire apparatus upon its vertical axis.

It will be noticed by erable distance below theV reciprocating vanes, thus bringing the center of gravity of the apparatus very low so as to give a proper equilibrium,l that will sustain the apparatus in an approximately upright and therefore safe position. v

In case the motor should be stopped from any cause the apparatus will begin to d'e- Saend and the vanes of all the frames being instantly forced to their horizontal position, the planes thus formed will `resist the action of gravity to asufficient extent to permit vthe machine to settle toward the earth at a moderate speed and the shock or jar of contact with the ground will be )partially absorbed by the buder springs 14, so as to prevent breakage of the machinery, or injury to the operator.

Having thus described my in\ ention, what I claim 1s:; p

1. In an aerial machine, including a motor, the combination with a supporting frame, of a crank shaft on said frame, verti'cal ides'pivoted on said shaft, a reciprocating frlame mounted on guides, movable vanes carried by said reciprocating frame, operative connection between the reciprocating frame and said shaft, and means for inclining said guides relatively, to the supporting frame, said means comprising a rock shaft, arms on said shaft, and a iiexible connection between the shaft and said guides.

2. In ,an aerial machine, including a motor, the combination with a supporting frame, of a main shaft, a plurality of inspection of the drawings that the platform and machinery' .carried thereon are suspended at a considcranks on lsaid shaft, vertical guides pivoted on said shaft, and arranged in pairs, a frame adapted to reciprocate on each pair of guides, movable vanes carried by each of said frames, operative connection between each frame and one of said cranks, and

-means for inclining the said guides relathereon, of a rock-shaft arranged parallel f with the main shaft and comprising a hol-A low shaftl formed in sections rigidly connected by an offset, and an inner sectional shaft, each section extending entirely through the corresponding outer section and operative connection between said rock shaft and said guides. l

motor, the *combination with a supporting frame, a main shaft, guides pivoted on said shaft, and fra-mes adapted to reciprocate on said guides and vanes mounted on said frames, of a rock-shaft arranged parallel `with the main shaft'and comprising a hollow shaft formed in sections rigidly connected by an offset, and an innerisectional shaft, each inner section extending entirely through the corresponding outer section, operative connection between some of said guides and the outer shaft, and operative connection between the remaining guides and the inner shaft. J

5. In an aerial machine, including a l 90 4. In an aerial machine, including a motor, the combination with a supporting frame, a main shaft, upwardly extending guides pivoted on said shaft, frames adapted to'reciprocate on said guides, vanes sup.- ported on said frames, and operative connection between the frames and said mair shaft, of av rock-shaft arranged paralleLwith the main shaft, said rock-shaft comprising:`

a hollow shaft having an offset intermediate the ends, an inner shaft comprising sectionsn extending through the portions of the hollow, shaft upon each side o-f the offset, means for independently ope-rating the outer and inner shafts, and operative connection between the said outer and inne-r shafts and the said guidgs. l

' 6. In an aerial machine, the combination with a supporting frame, and a motor, of a main shaft mounted on said frame and provided with a plurality of cranks, a pair of up-wardly extending guide-rods pivoted on said'shaft adjacenteach crank, a framearranged to slide u on eachpair of said v rods, series of hinge vanes carried by said two sections adapted to rock in opposite di-- rections, operative connection between said rock-shaft and said guide rods and means for reclprocatlng sa1d slidable frames.

7. In an apparatus of the character de. scribed, the combination with a supporting frame,y and a motor, of a crank shaft prov vided with a plurality of cranks, a pair of upwardly extending guide rods arranged adjacent each crank and mounted to rock upon said shaft, a frame arranged to slide upon each pair of guide rods, series of hinged vanes carried by said frames, the vanes upon each frame arranged to form a continuous plane when closed upon their hinges, means for rocking some pairs of said guide rods independently of the other pairs, said rocking means comprising a rock shaft, and arms on said rock-shaft connected with said guide rods, and means for reciprocatingsaid frames.

8. In an apparatus for the purpose described, including a supporting frame, and a motor, of a main shaft, a plurality of cranks on said shaft, a pair of upwardly extending guide rods corresponding with each crank, and mounted to rock upon said shaft, reciprocating frames engaging said guide rods, vanes carried by said frames, a rock shaft arranged parallel with said main shaft, said rock shaft comprising two hollow shafts telescopically mounted, rock arms on said hollow shafts, connections between said arms and the guide rods, and means for rocking said shafts independently.

9. In an apparatus for the purpose specified, including a supporting frame and a motor, of a main shaft, a plurality of cranks on said shaft, a plurality of pairs of guide rods extending upwardly from said shaft and mounted to rock thereon, reciprocating frames slidable on said rods, planes carried by said frames, each plane comprising hinged vanes adapted to form a continuous surface when closed upon their hinges, a rock shaft comprising a hollow shaft formed in sections rigidly connected, and an inner sectional shaft, means for independently rocking said inner and outer shafts, rock arms on said shafts, operative connection be- .tween said Varms and the guide rods and means for operating said reciprocating frames.

10. In an apparatus for the purpose specified, including a motor the combination with a supporting frame, "a crank shaft provided with a plurality of cranks, guide rods .mounted to rock on said shaft, reciprocating frames slidable on said rods, planes carried by said frames, said planes. composed of hinged vanes adapted .to be opened and closed by the impact of the air when said frames are operated, a rock shaft comprising an outer hollow shaft formed in sections rigidly connected, an inner shaft also formed in sections, means for rocking the said shaftsindependently or in unison, and means for rocking the sections of the inner shaft simultaneously in opposite directions, and means for operating said reciprocating frames. l

11. In an apparatus for the purpose-specified, a reciprocating plane composed of a series of flaps formed of rectangular sheets arranged with overlapping margins, hinges for said sheets formed by a plurality of parallel stretched cords to which said sheets are attached by means of a suitable adhesive applied intermediate the ends of the sheets leaving said ends free, and stop cords arranged above and below the flaps to limit their movement.

12. In an apparatus for the purpose specified the combination with a supporting frame, and a motor, of a crank shaft journaled on the frame, a plurality of cranks on said shaft, a pair of upwardly projecting guides mounted to rock'on said shaft adjacent each crank, a reciprocating frame carried by each pair of guides, said frame comprising sleeves slidable on said guides, and tubular members attached to said sleeves, a pitman rod connecting each frame with its corresponding crank, planes attached to said i ment, and means for independentlyrocking the outer and inner pairs of guides.

13. In anapparatus for the purpose specified, including a motor, of a supporting plat'- form, a crank shaft supplied with a plurality of cranks, a plurality of reciprocating frames corresponding to said cranks arranged above said platform, operative means connecting each crank with its respective frame, planes carried by said frames, said planes composed of valves adapted to be opened and closed by alternate reciprocal movements of said frames, means for inclining the middle planes and the outer planes independently of each other, and means for simultaneously inclining the said outer planes in opposite directions.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

I-I. DELos I-IIGMAN, CHAs. F. BAssn'r'r. 

